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The first radio committee of the Minnesota Library \ssociation
was appointed in April of 1838- . The chairman investinted the possibilities of several different types of programs, borrowing samples
from the A.L.A. Headquarters and writing directly to broadcastingi-
libraries for others. After several meetings of the committee, it
was decided that we would make our program a ttquestions and answerH
type. We decided on the name "Information % lease", and then discovered
that that name had been assumed by a network program that was getting
to be well ^ownl So we changed and called it Fact-Finders. "Fact-
Finders on the air* was our opening slogan, accompanied by our same
theme music always.
Xt was decided to , by means of Questions which were supposed^
ly written in by listeners, entertain the radio audience, and at the
same time get it across that the Public Library reacehed into the
dally lives of all kinds of people, and offered a great variety of
helpful services. Xn each program, we aimed to pu over some one or
two simple ideas about the Library situation in the state.
The programs ran for 15 minutes, and were held weekly. Our first
action was to write two or three sample scripts, and then sell some
radio station with the idea of giving us free time.
Fortunately one member of our committee was a clever writer.
She assumed responsibility for the complete set of 39 scripts, wiht
a very few suggestions from other members of the committee, and eltorial
help and suggestions from the chairman. Cooperation really began after
the scripts were completed and In the hands of the cooperating librarians.
As we could not spare time for production, we had to write scripts
that wonlbe addumes by tho radio station. Our scripts were in dialogue
form—with musical keynots at beginning and end, and had a 2 min.
musical interlude in each—provided from transcriptions in the studio.
The musical interlude was tied Into the subject of the dcript in some
way—examples given later.
Our main aim was to e««*« entertain—and to instruct as much
as possible with entertainment as the chief aim. The radio dial Is
very easily turned—and a mere recital of facts and figures,unless
they are cast in some informal, entertaining form, is fatal. We were
especially fortunate in interesting the program directors at one of the
big stations in our scripts. He was himself one of the voices in the
program during the entire 39 weeks. The other was the announcer on
duty. They really had fun giving the programs and It showed in their
performances.
Fact Finders ran continuously every week from "Oct. 5, 1938 to
June 30, 1939.
The scripts safl written every weelo—we tried to makte them timely—
wor'dng in holidays, current happenings In world affairs, etc.
After we had sold the idea to the local station, and gotten his
permission to rebroadcast the scripts after their initial performance
from the Minneapolis station, we set about selling the idea to librarians
In smaller Minnesota towns having access to radio stations.
All such librarians were approached, and all agreed to approach their
loaal program managers. T is resulted in the rebroadcasting of the scripts
after their initial broadcast by 9 smaller radio stations. Duringthe
year there were given over Minnesota radio stations nearly 400 radio
scripts of 15 minutes each.at a cost of a few cents over 19.00 (Btencils
and postage)
All research and writing and editorial wor'c was done by a-**e
members of the radio committee in the Minneapolis Public Library, the
greater part of it, of course, on personal time. The scripts were du-

The first radio committee of the Minnesota Library \ssociation
was appointed in April of 1838- . The chairman investinted the possibilities of several different types of programs, borrowing samples
from the A.L.A. Headquarters and writing directly to broadcastingi-
libraries for others. After several meetings of the committee, it
was decided that we would make our program a ttquestions and answerH
type. We decided on the name "Information % lease", and then discovered
that that name had been assumed by a network program that was getting
to be well ^ownl So we changed and called it Fact-Finders. "Fact-
Finders on the air* was our opening slogan, accompanied by our same
theme music always.
Xt was decided to , by means of Questions which were supposed^
ly written in by listeners, entertain the radio audience, and at the
same time get it across that the Public Library reacehed into the
dally lives of all kinds of people, and offered a great variety of
helpful services. Xn each program, we aimed to pu over some one or
two simple ideas about the Library situation in the state.
The programs ran for 15 minutes, and were held weekly. Our first
action was to write two or three sample scripts, and then sell some
radio station with the idea of giving us free time.
Fortunately one member of our committee was a clever writer.
She assumed responsibility for the complete set of 39 scripts, wiht
a very few suggestions from other members of the committee, and eltorial
help and suggestions from the chairman. Cooperation really began after
the scripts were completed and In the hands of the cooperating librarians.
As we could not spare time for production, we had to write scripts
that wonlbe addumes by tho radio station. Our scripts were in dialogue
form—with musical keynots at beginning and end, and had a 2 min.
musical interlude in each—provided from transcriptions in the studio.
The musical interlude was tied Into the subject of the dcript in some
way—examples given later.
Our main aim was to e««*« entertain—and to instruct as much
as possible with entertainment as the chief aim. The radio dial Is
very easily turned—and a mere recital of facts and figures,unless
they are cast in some informal, entertaining form, is fatal. We were
especially fortunate in interesting the program directors at one of the
big stations in our scripts. He was himself one of the voices in the
program during the entire 39 weeks. The other was the announcer on
duty. They really had fun giving the programs and It showed in their
performances.
Fact Finders ran continuously every week from "Oct. 5, 1938 to
June 30, 1939.
The scripts safl written every weelo—we tried to makte them timely—
wor'dng in holidays, current happenings In world affairs, etc.
After we had sold the idea to the local station, and gotten his
permission to rebroadcast the scripts after their initial performance
from the Minneapolis station, we set about selling the idea to librarians
In smaller Minnesota towns having access to radio stations.
All such librarians were approached, and all agreed to approach their
loaal program managers. T is resulted in the rebroadcasting of the scripts
after their initial broadcast by 9 smaller radio stations. Duringthe
year there were given over Minnesota radio stations nearly 400 radio
scripts of 15 minutes each.at a cost of a few cents over 19.00 (Btencils
and postage)
All research and writing and editorial wor'c was done by a-**e
members of the radio committee in the Minneapolis Public Library, the
greater part of it, of course, on personal time. The scripts were du-